After Newcastle United outclass Manchester United – Ruben Amorim talks of relegation

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·31 December 2024

After Newcastle United outclass Manchester United – Ruben Amorim talks of relegation

Ruben Amorim watched on as his Manchester United team were second best in every department to Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side two goals up within 19 minutes and the game over.

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Ruben Amorim only lucky it wasn’t four or five goals the deficit by half-time.

The new Manchester United boss has now lost six of the last seven domestic matches and now he admits relegation is a possibility.

Next up, Ruben Amorim and his players face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday…

Ruben Amorim speaking after Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 2:

‘Is it embarrassing that as Manchester United manager you’re talking about relegation?’

“Yes, it’s also my fault in this moment, because I think the team know it has not improved.

“I think it’s a little bit lost in this moment, so it’s a little bit embarrassing to be Manchester United coach and to lose a lot of games.

“But we have to cope with that, difficult moments in the life of everybody. So it’s a hard moment.”

‘How do you end this slump?’

“It’s really hard, I think it’s really hard on everybody and you feel it on the pitch.

“I think we show some improvements in the first games, especially against Manchester City and Tottenham, even in Arsenal the first moment, but we are losing that because of the lack of training and the lack of belief after so many losses.

“Some difficult moments when you suffer some goals in the beginning of the games and then it’s really hard during all the games.

“So it’s a really tough moment for everybody and I think the players losing everything, the small things that we try to work on in training, after one goal, they lose everything because they don’t have the base, we don’t have time to build the base to cope with the difficult moments. So it’s really hard in this moment.”

‘You said that there’s a distinct possibility that the club are in a relegation battle. Has that dawned on the players now that they’re going to have to be up for the fight?’

“Yes, when you have this kind of moments, especially in the big clubs, it’s really hard to turn things around, especially when you have don’t have a lot of time to train the basics to cope with the difficult moments.

“We have to acknowledge our position, the way you see the league, everybody can win [against] everybody. So we have to win games and to focus on surviving.”

‘Joshua Zirkzee, when he came off, I know it was an unpleasant reaction for him to have. When he went into the tunnel, did someone have to go in there and bring him back out or did he want to be in the dressing room?’

“He wants to be there and then he returns in the second half.

“It was a very difficult moment and he’s a human being, but then he felt the support of the fans in the end, so everything is okay.”

‘I understand the idea of wanting to have your system and your idea and impose that on to a group of players, but when you don’t have the group of players who can play your system, do you not, at some point, have to compromise and change your system and try and get through this period?’

“It’s like playing with three it’s, more or less, the same thing of playing with four.

“We can change the characteristics, if you play with Amad on the wing, it could be a little bit different. We have some games that we press in 4-4-2. So I don’t see it that way.

“Of course, the players are not… I didn’t choose the players specifically for that position, but that I already knew, but I have to sell my idea, if I’m going to change all the time, it’s going to be even worse.

“But I understand that they have a lot of difficulties because they spend two years playing one way and then they are playing another. And with a lot of losses, it’s really tough on them and you can feel it during the games.

“Even today, when we try to score and we are near to score, it’s more from them than the organisation. You can feel it, I can feel it. But I have to sell my idea, I don’t have another one.”

‘I think everyone respects why you’re saying you have to sell the idea, you’ve got to have a vision, I think everyone respects that. But if you keep on losing, it’s impossible to sell the idea. So then what?’

“If I change the system completely, I don’t know if I’m near to win. If I do that and continue to lose, then it’s worst.

“You don’t know, I don’t know, and I see the game in a different way. It doesn’t matter if you are three, with five, or with four. If you know the basics and if you can train that idea, I see the game in this way.

“So I understand what you’re saying but if I know, for sure, that changing everything is going to get us near to win games, I will do it.”

‘Could you not have said to them this is going to be my idea from next season, we’re going to have the summer, pre-season, we’re going to have all that to work on it, which you obviously haven’t had. But for the time being, we’re going to maybe play a hybrid, sometimes 3-4-3, sometimes the system that you are comfortable with, you know, just to maybe accommodate the difficult situation that you’re in?’

“When you have a change of coach, especially in this type of club, it’s because they are not winning and they play specifically in the system they were bought for and choose perfectly for that system.

“So, in that moment, with the idea with two years working in pre-seasons, they were losing. So I’m going to change for that system that I don’t believe to change things to win games? It doesn’t make sense.

“So I can understand your ideas. For me, it’s more simple than that. What I think is that, of course, if I think the players with right profile for each position, it will be different, but I have to start now this moment because this team was already in problems. So I have to teach what I know and that is my focus and I believe in that.”

‘Do you think you can make any additions in January, given the squad wasn’t built with this system in mind?’

“We don’t have that possibility in January, if we don’t sell some players.

“You know the situation better than I am. So it’s not the case that I am arriving here and I can spend a lot of money changing all the team.

“You know the situation, so it’s not a point to talk about it.”

‘Marcus Rashford said he might be looking for a new challenge, he was on the bench today. Was that a statement by you, or do you think he was able to change the game in a positive way for United?’

“I think about the team, you think a lot about Marcus.

“I think about the team. I am not making a point, I just want to win the games.

“And you can feel it, I am talking about the idea and the fight for relegation. I want to make a point during the game? No, I just want to win the game.”

‘You’re obviously taking quite a lot of the responsibility on your own shoulders, you just said there that you were to blame. But did you expect a higher basic level from the players because the reason that you’re losing all these games is not simply down to a system, is it? It’s not just a system thing that’s causing the defeats, there are improvements that the players need to make themselves and not hide behind you and the talk about the system all the time?’

“I am responsible.

“I don’t like to arrive here and make excuses. I think people are tired of excuses in this club.

“Sometimes, I talk about relegation because of that.

“I think our club needs a shock, it needs a shock, and we have to understand that.

“It’s a very difficult moment and we have to fight for the next game and to implement the idea to win games and also to have the performance, because I think we are losing some things from the last games.”

‘Do you feel like you’re having to protect the players perhaps more than you would like? Because you’re only just through the door, it’s only been six weeks, that maybe you can’t come in front of us and say, It’s not just my fault, they’ve got to take their share of the responsibility?’

“I just want to win games.

“I never watch a coach winning games by not protecting the players.

“So what I have to say to the players, I say in the dressing room.

“In here, I’m responsible, and we will have to prepare the next game, try to win, we need desperately to win.”

Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 2 – Monday 30 December 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Newcastle United:

Isak 4, Joelinton 19

(In brackets the half-time stats)

Possession was Newcastle 47% (51%) Man U 53% (49%)

Total shots were Newcastle 12 (11) Man U 10 (3)

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 (4) Man U 1 (0)